‘Friend to everyone’ Sophia wins first youth compassion award

A teenager who has helped transform life at her school has been named the first-ever winner of the Dalia Lama’s Youth Compassion Award. Sophia Saleem has been hailed an outstanding role model by pupils and staff at Levenshulme High School for leading an anti-bullying campaign.

A teenager who has helped transform life at her school has been named the first-ever winner of the Dalia Lama’s Youth Compassion Award.

Sophia Saleem has been hailed an outstanding role model by pupils and staff at Levenshulme High School for leading an anti-bullying campaign.

The 15-year-old, who chairs her school council, has also raised hundreds of pounds and addressed school assemblies about a charity providing clean water to Africa. The campaigning pupil, whose all-girls school is one Manchester’s most-ethnically diverse, has led a number of anti-bullying initiatives and was described as a ‘friend to everyone’.

Teacher Matt Sutherland, who nominated Sophia, said: "She always has a smile for everybody. When you speak to her, you always go away feeling better about yourself."

Read more at: The M.E.N. received dozens of nominations for the inaugural award, which will also be handed out to youngsters in London and Scotland.

The Dalai Lama’s UK representative said Sophia, currently taking her GCSE exams and who hopes to one day enter politics, was a great example of a young person striving to make a difference.

Sophia, from Levenshulme, accepted the award from the Buddhist leader during Saturday’s Manchester Arena event in front of a 10,000-strong audience – including proud dad Mohammed, 73, and sister Saeqa, 32.

After receiving the award, Sophia said: "I was absolutely overwhelmed to be nominated. I was really struck by what the Dalai Lama had to say about personal responsibility and confronting challenges. Going up on stage was really scary, I couldn’t believe how many people were there. Meeting him and receiving the award was such a huge honour."